the beginning of the end of an era

last night, and the night before that, rowan slept all night long.

she's been sleeping on a futon in our room for about 6 months, and we moved the futon to her room about a week ago. the first two nights were hell. i nursed her to sleep at the computer as usual, put her to bed, and put the baby monitor in her room and the receiver under my pillow. she woke and cried in the middle of the night and i went to lay down with her there and get her back to sleep--which was easier said than done. it took about an hour of nursing each time. uggh. but i was determined to do what it took to help her make it through the night in her bed, in her room. and it paid off--for two nights now we have both slept all night, without nursing or crying.

i took some proactive steps to help her make this transition--fed her TWO suppers, the latter just before nursing to sleep, so her belly was nice and full. and i've been tweaking the cloth diaper set up so she stays *really* dry at night. i'm still learning all the cloth diaper stuff since getting a new (used) cd stash of big girl sized covers and AIOs. (we cd'd when she was little, but when she potty trained during the day at almost 2, we switched to pull ups at night.) and i've been getting her into full length pjs so she doesn't get chilly legs when she kicks the covers off.

i'm ready for her to night wean, though i know she isn't completely ready to give up nursing altogether. and i'm so proud of myself for helping her sleep in her room without force or letting her cry--which is, in my mind, something akin to murder. i know some people feel they have to do it but it's just not a possibility for me. i have been blessed with two children who learned early on their needs would be met, period, and i've helped them to communicate as early as possible so that crying wasn't their only means to get my attention.

anyway, a small victory. i know i'm doing it right when we *all* are happy.